Wednesday, August 16, 2006

Shining a light

The Sunlight Foundation is the new government watchdog on the block. Founded just this year, and already noticed for its Congresspedia, it's released its first investigative project: Exposing Earmarks. Those are the little projects that congress members get inserted into spending bills without debate or vote. They've compiled over 1800 of them in an upcoming labor bill, and are asking for help finding more. There's a spreadsheet available of all of them. Among other things on the Sunlight Foundation site, blogs from members, and training in computer assisted investigation.